Day care woes may signal church's fate

The future of Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach is so uncertain that parents at its Christian Academy preschool have been asked to find alternative child care beginning this summer.

The recommendation could be a sign the church plans to close, although the March 31 letter said leaders were unsure what the future holds for the struggling congregation at 342 N. Swinton Ave. A task force, which is scheduled to finish its work next month, has been examining ways to rescue the 105-year-old church after a separate panel recommended closure in February.

"Because of its ministry to the community, the congregation would like to keep the Academy open but that may not be possible," said the letter signed by the church's pastor, administrator, preschool director and trustee chair. "Since we cannot let you know the status of the Academy for certain until May, our suggestion is that you should make alternate plans for your children's care this summer and next year."

The preschool and child care center, for infants through 4-year-olds, drains $110,000 a year from the church's budget, according to the letter. Church officials have said the church's budget of $650,000 is more than twice its anticipated revenue. Attendance at the church has fallen from a peak of about 750 in the 1980s to 170 today. About 70 children attend the school and child care center.

Jim Ferrell, a spokesman, declined to comment on discussions of the task force, which has been meeting for two weeks.

"It's kind of like when the [Catholic] Cardinals pick the Pope," he said. "You find out their decision when they're done."

The decision to try to keep the church open has caused a split among congregants that has led at least one church leader to resign his post. Charlie Blose, a member and the church's volunteer business administrator, resigned effective June 30.